Our roots

A collective vision, a shared future.

Future First grew out of the vision of the Women’s Congress for Future Generations, a project of the non-profit Science and Environmental Health Network (SEHN). For more than two decades, SEHN has been working to engage communities and governments in the effective application of science to protect and restore public and ecosystem health.

The Women’s Congress for Future Generations was initiated by Carolyn Raffensperger, the Executive Director of SEHN in order to mobilize a movement of women going forward, fueling actions to shift cultural and political conversations toward a worldview that recognizes the interdependence of all things.

The beginning: Moab, Utah

In September 2012, over 175 like-minded individuals gathered in Moab, Utah, for the first Women’s Congress for Future Generations: three days to dream, debate, write, sing, speak and create. The focus was on the rights of future generations to a just and livable future.

A Declaration of the Rights Held by Future Generations and the Bill of Responsibilities for Present Generations was drafted and ratified. This is a living document, designed and defined to expand and evolve as it is passed down from generation to generation.

Future First

Created in January 2014, Future First takes the work of the Women’s Congress for Future Generations forward by putting the principles of the Declaration into action. We collaborate with environmental and justice organizations and inspire women to stand together for the rights of future generations.

The 2014 Women’s Congress for Future Generations

The second Women’s Congress for Future Generations was held in November 2014 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It gathered hundreds of people together for three days to catalyze and deepen a movement of women going forward, fueling actions to shift cultural and political conversations toward a worldview that recognizes the interdependence of all things. Learn more.